Pain near port area and...

[blackonynx 27]

Hello! I've posted hear several times before and I have also had 3 barium swallows, a CT scan, and x-rays of my stomach. They can't find anything. But my chief complaint is PAIN around the port area, ribs, and upper belly. It's just really painful between the port and band.(swollen). This flare up occurs every 2-4 months and then goes away just as it came. My Dr. said that it was a muscle that the port is stitched too. I believed that for 2 1/2 years but not any more. I now feel that something else is going on b/c the flare ups are getting worse. I have another appt. tomorrow with another Dr.for labs and to find out the next step. I've really tried to work with the band, but I can't tolerate the pain that worsens upon deep breathing. Has anyone else have the pain and shortness of breath that I've described? If so, do you know what it was/is?

[Micki2676 0]

I have had the same issue for about 6-8 months now. I also have had the same tests several times over and they cannot find the source of the pain. I notice flare ups but this last and most recent one occurred last Friday. I was rushed to the ER with bad heart palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, migriane headache, dizziness, extreme fatigue and achiness all over. I was vomiting in the ER and BP and body temp were all over the place. My port area hurts all the time, not to mention I can feel like its hardened around the port. I also feel lumps in my abdomen and they are painful. They couldn't find the source and tested my blood for sepsis which came back negative. I felt like I was dying and I just can't get any real answers.

I was diagnosed with autoimmune disease (RA, Hashimotos, Fibermyalgia) shortly after my band was put in Nov 2009. So they keep telling me that I'm having flare ups from that. I wasn't having flare ups before. I don't think the band caused my autoimmune but I do think it may be exacerbating it. I think I have an infection from the band and my body is probably rejecting it because of the autoimmune disease. We will find out for certain next Tuesday Sept 24th when they remove my band.

I have had my band filled and unfilled 3 times and each time I became malnourished and it made my anemia worse. At one point it was too tight and I was having night aspirations. I haven't had my ban filled for over a year now. As crappy as I still feel, I am over-joyed to have this thing taken out. I am just lucky my insurance is paying 100% of the removal. The surgeon wanted me to do a gastric sleeve. I respectfully declined. Once again I will have to do this weight loss journey the old fashion way, diet and exercise.

Please post any updates if you get any answers. I will do the same.

[MRSJLH 1]

Don't wait too long. I had my band from 2/09 till 5/13 and ended up in the hospital for seven weeks with a massive infection. The surgeon advised that I should never have another lap band under any circumstances. Scar tissue in my stomach still has me eating as if I had a band when I eat solid food. Hope you are better soon!

[blackonynx 27]

Hello! I have since had another CT scan this week and again, the Dr. said it's negative. I still have pain around the port area. It had eased up a little but today I'm feeling it when inhaling. This Dr. seems to feel that I need more Fiber in my diet but I will call them back in a another few days if the pain is still there and ask to have the band removed with or without any other procedure. I'm afraid of these unknown pains that come and go. Something must be causing it, and I believe it's in/around the port. MRSJLH, I'm also thinking infection as well. I can feel the port and the wide area of thickness that's around it. I'm thinking scar tissue.

[Micki2676 0]

I got my band removed on Tuesday. Still in a lot of pain but overall feeling much better. My surgeon told me that I had a lot of scar tissue around the band and port area. This was the reason why I felt restriction although the band was completely un-filled. They didn't find any infection. I suppose that is a good and bad thing cause I still don't know the reason for the flare ups (episodes). I guess this is why they don't recommend people with autoimmune get banded. In my defense, I didn't have any autoimmune conditions until after I got the band. My surgical nurse is convinced that the band is causing or triggering autoimmune disorders because she told me she seeing this a lot more often.

I researched this for about a year before I got the band and never saw any warnings against banding people with autoimmune diseases. I only wish my doctor had been more thorough about my family history of autoimmune disease. Also, I would not recommend this for anyone who is anemic either. I was only borderline anemic when I was banded and every time I got the band filled and was restricted it made my anemia much worse.

Overall, I didn't have a good experience with the lap-band but I have learned a lot about myself and my capabilities. It has forced me to live a healthier lifestyle. I know now that there truly is nothing more valuable than your health. I've lost 25 pounds without the band and I know I will reach my goal. I am recovering right now but I already can't wait to get back in the gym and back to feeling better.

Good luck and good health to all!